Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Full participant Thursday
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Wirfs (knee) was a full participant in practice Thursday.
The starting left tackle was estimated as a limited participant in Wednesday's walkthrough. Wirfs played all 72 offensive snaps in Tampa Bay's 31-25 loss to Philadelphia last week, his season debut. His full participation Thursday strongly indicates that he's on track to play this Sunday as well.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Limited to open week
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Wirfs (knee) was estimated to be a limited participant at the Buccaneers' walkthrough Wednesday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Wirfs made his season debut in the team's 31-25 loss to the Eagles in Week 4, playing all 72 offensive snaps at left tackle. The team is likely just being cautious with the 26-year-old, and he'll have two more chances to log a full practice prior to Sunday's contest in Seattle.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Making season debut Sunday
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Wirfs (knee) is listed as active Sunday versus the Eagles.
Wirfs first donned a brace on his right knee while sitting out a minicamp practice in mid-June. He then underwent surgery in early July, with his recovery extending into the regular season. After following an LP/FP/FP practice regimen this week, Wirfs was given a questionable designation for Week 4 action but now has been cleared to retake his starting spot at left tackle.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Trending toward playing Week 4
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Wirfs (knee) is expected to make his 2025 debut against the Eagles on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Wirfs ended the week with back-to-back full practices and is on track to play Sunday. The 2020 first-rounder missed all of training camp and the first three games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in early July. Graham Barton would likely revert to a reserve role on the Bucs' offensive line if Wirfs is cleared to play.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Could return Sunday
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Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday that Wirfs (knee) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
The 2020 first-round pick from Iowa hasn't played since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in early July, but his full practice Thursday suggests a Week 4 return may be on the horizon. However, if Wirfs remains sidelined Sunday, 2024 first-round pick Graham Barton is expected to slide over to left tackle and make his fourth consecutive start in that position.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Full practice Thursday
Rotowire
Wirfs (knee) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
Wirfs appears to be on the cusp of making his return to action after having knee surgery in early July, building off of Wednesday's limited session to practice in full Thursday. The offensive lineman's status for Sunday's contest against the Eagles will be much clearer once Tampa Bay releases its final injury report Friday.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Opens week with limited practice
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Wirfs (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Wirfs is in the final stages of his recovery from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in early July. He would put himself in a position to make his 2025 debut against the Eagles on Sunday if he were to practice in at least a limited capacity over the next two days. Graham Barton would be in line for a fourth-straight start at left tackle if Wirfs is not cleared to play.
Wirfs (knee) will remain out for Sunday's game against the Jets but has a "strong chance" at making his season debut Week 4 versus the Eagles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After practiced in a limited fashion throughout Week 3, Wirfs is expected to take a step forward in activity in Week 4 by participating in drills with the Buccaneers' other starters. So long as his surgically repaired right knee holds up well in practice during the upcoming week, Wirfs should be ready to step back in at his usual spot at left tackle. Graham Barton will protect quarterback Baker Mayfield's blind slide for the third straight game Sunday, but he'll shift back to center once Wirfs rejoins the lineup.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Out for Week 3
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Wirfs (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Wirfs will miss his third straight game to open the season, but he was able to get in some limited work during practice this week and appears to be nearing a return, which the Bucs badly need with their offensive line having been wrecked by injuries two games into the year.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Won't play Monday
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Wirfs (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game versus the Texans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Wirfs will miss a second consecutive game due to his recovery from July arthroscopic right knee surgery. It's encouraging that he returned to the practice field in a limited fashion Thursday, and his next chance to play is Week 3 versus the Jets.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Misses practice Wednesday
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Wirfs (knee) did not participate at the Buccaneers' practice Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.
Wirfs is expected to miss the first few games of the season while he continues to recover from arthroscopic right knee surgery, so his absence Wednesday isn't a major surprise. Charlie Heck will likely draw the start at left tackle in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Falcons.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Activated from PUP list
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Wirfs (knee) passed a physical and was activated from the active/PUP list Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Wirfs spent the entirety of training camp on the sidelines after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in early July. He will now be able to return to practice, but he remains unlikely to play in the Buccaneers' first handful of games in 2025. In his absence, Charlie Heck and Luke Goedeke are candidates to open the season as Tampa Bay's starting left tackle.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Likely to miss games
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Wirfs (knee) is expected to start the regular season on Tampa Bay's 53-man roster so he can participate in practice, but he likely won't play until October, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Buccaneers are expected to utilize a similar approach with both Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin (PUP-ankle). Wirfs is currently on the active/PUP list. If Wirfs is sidelined for all of September, he would miss the first four games of the regular season. The Buccaneers could start backup Charlie Heck at left tackle during Wirfs' absence or slide Luke Goedeke over from right tackle to protect Baker Mayfield's blind side.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Doing 'excellent job' in recovery
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Wirfs, who had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in July, was down to utilizing just one crutch Tuesday and is coming along well in his recovery, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht sounded an optimistic tone about the star left tackle Tuesday, saying Wirfs was doing "an excellent job" in his recovery process. However, the Bucs are naturally proceeding with caution, with Licht adding the caveat the team needs to be careful to not rush the All-Pro's return to football activities. Wirfs has previously been projected to miss the start of the regular season but not necessarily profile as a candidate for the reserve/PUP list.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Expected back early in season?
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Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles recently told joebucsfan.com that Wirfs (knee) "will be ready sooner than later" but not necessarily for Week 1.
"I don't know if it's Week 1, 2, 3," Bowles said. Wirfs had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee July 8, with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reporting at the time that the star left tackle likely would miss "at least the first couple games" of the regular season. Bowles' comments sound like he expects Wirfs back at some point in September or maybe October, which should be manageable for a team that otherwise returns all of last year's starters on an offensive line that was among the best in the league.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Expected to miss start of season
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Wirfs underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday and is expected to miss the start of the regular season, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wirfs dealt with the knee issue last season but missed just one regular-season contest. However, he aggravated the injury this offseason and was spotted wearing a brace during minicamp. The Bucs scheduled a knee scope for Wirfs on Tuesday, and additional minor damage was found during the procedure, according to Stroud, who also notes that Wirfs will likely begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. That would cost Wirfs at least the first four games of the campaign. Charlie Heck is expected to be the next man up at left tackle for Tampa Bay. Losing Wirfs is a big blow to the entire offense, as he's a road grader in the running game and protects Baker Mayfield's blind side in passing situations.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Active Sunday
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Wirfs (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The starting left tackle was questionable coming into Sunday after spraining his MCL in Week 10 against the 49ers and missing the Bucs' Week 12 win over the Giants. Wirfs was also a limited participant in practice throughout the week leading up to this game. The fifth-year pro, who signed a five-year, $140.63-million extension in August, has started all 10 games he's played in this season and all 81 that he's played in over the course of his career.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Iffy for Week 13
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Wirfs (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Wirfs sprained his MCL in Week 10 against the 49ers, and even with the Week 11 bye, he was unable to play in Week 12 against the Giants. Wirfs was a limited practice participant all week, and he has a chance to reclaim his starting spot at left tackle Sunday. If Wirfs is unable to play, Justin Skule would be in line to start at left tackle for a second straight game.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Inactive for Week 12
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Wirfs (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Wirfs sprained his MCL during the Buccaneers' Week 10 loss to the 49ers. He initially was listed as questionable for Sunday's game after practicing in a limited capacity all week but was downgraded to doubtful Saturday. Wirfs' next opportunity to suit up will be Week 13 against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 1. Justin Skule is the top candidate to start at left tackle due to Wirfs being sidelined.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Questionable for Sunday
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Wirfs (knee/foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Giants, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
The 25-year-old offensive lineman sprained his right MCL in Tampa Bay's Week 10 loss to the 49ers and practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week. If Wirfs is unable to suit up for the Week 12 matchup, expect Justin Skule to protect Baker Mayfield's blindside.
